Almanac

News - May 22, 2013

Menlo Park examines community services budget

A 2 percent cost-of-living increase and travel expenses for professional development figure into Menlo Park's community services budget for fiscal year 2013-2014, according to a memo from Director Cherise Brandell.

"Salaries and wages are up slightly as we expect the Council to approve some level of cost-of-living increases for our unionized employees (not for Department Directors) in the fall when contracts expire," she wrote in a memo. As for travel expenses, they are also increased "to accommodate additional training for professional certifications and other professional development that was not included in previous year's leaner budgets."

In his own budget proposal for Menlo Park, City Manager Alex McIntyre also argued for giving city employees their first cost-of-living increase in five years.

The proposed community services budget includes added security for the city's childcare centers and new equipment for its recreational facilities. Increased facility rentals, along with service fee increases, are expected to raise the department's revenue to $5.6 million, about 10 percent more than last fiscal year, Ms. Brandell said. Cost recovery is expect to stay about 80 percent, according to the memo, with the city's community programs requiring a $1.7 million subsidy.

The community services budget will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on Wednesday, May 22. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Onetta Harris Community Center at 100 Terminal Ave.